Tuesday, January 29, 2008

January Light



I began my day in the driveway, checking on the bird feeders, listening to the ravens leave their roost, watching the redpolls wake and send out scouts. I love when I can do this. Many days it is too windy, sometimes too cold for this. I even scouted under the power pole for owl pellets. I would really like to find one for Vivi to take apart. She would really enjoy this. Zoey and I did it about this age. She was amazed at how close we came to putting a whole vole together. I found none this morning, darn! I enjoyed the slow progress of the waning half moon while I was out.



The day then turned to piano homework, math lessons, and leaving the mountain for town. Zoey had writing class and both girls had piano. I was reluctant to leave. The town was shrouded in a layer of clouds and fog that started at about 1500 feet and went nearly to the ground. I knew it would be grey and dark in town.



I am sure to most January light is too lean, too watery with too few hours. For me, here in Alaska it is hope. When it is out it is pink, pink, pink. And it is reflected everywhere. In January, you begin to feel the light extending. Every day you gain three or four minutes. It adds up and you truly notice it.



The interplay between the crystalline structure of super cold snow and hoar frost crystals is something I never tire of. These photos are all un-enhanced, not filtered. They are the real deal. The light is just saturated with color.

Soon, too soon, the sunsets.

11 comments:

Dave Dorsey said...

Nice pix Trixie. I have a mew in the backyard with some Snowy Owl pellets in it. :)

entoto said...

So, what's mew with you, Dave? Heee...Heee...see, I have such a developed sense of humor? YIKES!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures. Your view is amazing. I love being high and getting to see a cloud sea like that.

Love the idea of the owl pellet exploration. My son's teacher does that with the 2nd graders every year. So fun. My daughter loved doing it when she was in that class.

Anonymous said...

Trixie, that pink January light is magical and really beautiful. I always enjoy checking in on your blog for a really different perspective of the earth.

RuthieJ said...

Hi Trixie,
I can understand your reluctance about going to town also.

Even though our days aren't as short as yours, we have also begun to notice more light in the evening--especially when we're eating supper at 5:30 and you can still see out to the backyard. It definitely gives a person hope!

Beth said...

The light is so beautiful, you are very fortunate.

Mary said...

Trixie, the third and fourth photos are absolutely stunning. I LOVE THEM! I would save them to my favorite if you had a Flickr account ;o)

Longer days are ahead. Alaska is beautiful, I've learned through you. I would need to keep the house lit up, though...

Think of Spring and please keep capturing those beautiful sunsets on ice.

Susan Gets Native said...

Oooooooo.....

Ahhhhhh.........

Anonymous said...

such amazing photos and the lighting is perfect! Must be great starting to see more and more lights this time of the year! Maybe you will find some pellets here soon!

Anonymous said...

i love the lighting in all of these...we've had nothing but overcast dreariness.

Larry said...

It's almost as if the light came right from heaven-Beautiful images!